A Christmas Second Thought

The tracks ole Buck left behind

Were long and snowy deep.

The quiet wrapped us like a blanket

As we rode along the creek.

Only the bubbling of the water 

and the soft saddle leather whine,

Could be heard above the tic-tic-tic

Of snow falling on the pines.

My hat was tight and my collar high,

The air was cold and thin.

But we were on a mission today

And we'd see it to the end.

"Right over this rise", I said to Buck,

"is where we'll need to be."

The pine I'd spied in the summer past

Would make just the perfect tree.

We'd drag it home and trim it fine

With lights and a garland weave.

It'd be the center of holiday cheer

On this snowy Christmas Eve.

We cleared the rise then feasted our eyes

On the most amazing sight.

The perfect tree in shimmering ice 

And draped in snowy white.

 Its weighted green and snowy boughs

Were adorned in reds and blues.

Cardinals and the bluest of Jays

Had chosen this tree to roost.

It was all that I had  imagined

When I'd seen it this past year

But never had I given thought 

That it could be so glorious... here.

On top was a frozen Aspen leaf,

As if crowned with a golden star.

And there we sat in silent awe 

 Like the shepherds from afar.

Buck pricked his ears and turned his head

To take a look back at me.

"I know ole boy" I softly said,

"Ain't it a grand sight to see?'

Before us was Gods handiwork,

and never more humbling than this.

I'd wanted a beautiful Christmas tree

Well... now I had my wish.

"You cant improve on perfection, boy,

Some things are best left alone."

I left the axe tied in its place

Then just swung around for home.

K.L. Dennie 2017